Residents Beware: City Warning Fake Letter from 'Department of Water' Circulating

The City is warning Toronto residents of a fake letter that appears to be from the “department of water” and is being sent to homes.

The letter, which has an official-looking City of Toronto logo, falsely claims it's from Lou Di Gironimo, general manager of Toronto Water.

READ: Toronto Police Warn of COVID Scams Targeting Residents Working From Home

The City says the letter is from a "false" department of water and is in regard to lead pipe replacement that results in a charge to a resident's utility bill and that it's "fraud."

The fake letter says the City is carrying out water main replacement work in the fall of 2020 and says the cost of the work is “estimated” at $38,000, half of which will be charged to the resident’s utility bill. The letter adds that there will be further correspondence with the resident to outline "the terms relating to cost in the coming months."

As photos of the letter began circulating online, Twitter users have pointed out the phone number listed actually belongs to Toronto's infamous strip club the Brass Rail.

Any residents who receive this letter are being asked to report it to Toronto police through the non-emergency line at 416-808-2222.

This comes at a time when Toronto Police are also warning residents of a spike in COVID-19-related scams targeting those working from home. This includes residents receiving text messages demanding banking information to receive payment for fines related to leaving the house too many times in a day.

Toronto

Residents Beware: City Warning Fake Letter from 'Department of Water' Circulating

The City is warning Toronto residents of a fake letter that appears to be from the “department of water” and is being sent to homes.

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"Every housing target ultimately depends on the availability of carpenters, electricians, plumbers, bricklayers, heavy equipment operators and dozens of other skilled tradespeople. Without them, housing policies become little more than plans on paper."